Brake Dust - Revisited

[iwanna300c]

My 99 BMW had the dustiest pads in the world. I replaced them with PBR pads and the wheels are now clean as a whistle. The only drawback is that I get a very little squeak from time to time. Well worth it!


EDIT- I think they are Pagid pads--don't quite remember.

Dzeck - you probably know what I'm talking about (cause I dont).

It's a 99 M Coupe.

[DZeckhausen]

Originally Posted by iwanna300c

My 99 BMW had the dustiest pads in the world. I replaced them with PBR pads and the wheels are now clean as a whistle. The only drawback is that I get a very little squeak from time to time. Well worth it!

You can usually get rid of that squeaking by re-bedding the brakes per the instructions here: http://www.zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm

[dynodon]

Dave,

I had real good luck with the Akebono ProAct ceramic pads on a 540i 6-speed. They took a really hard 2-day school and several months on the street with little wear, good performance and almost zero dust.

My 300c, I guess, has ceramic pads similar to these, but I would like a little more bite on the street, and I see that Akebono pads are available for the C, I guess not for the SRT-8. Do you carry these, and if not, what do you recommend for my C for an eventual track day that this car will see, hopefully this year. Do you think the stock pads will take a typical 8-10 lap session or two without danger?

[marlinspike]

Originally Posted by iwanna300c

My 99 BMW had the dustiest pads in the world. I replaced them with PBR pads and the wheels are now clean as a whistle. The only drawback is that I get a very little squeak from time to time. Well worth it!


EDIT- I think they are Pagid pads--don't quite remember.

Dzeck - you probably know what I'm talking about (cause I dont).

It's a 99 M Coupe.

Pagid's are OEM. The ones you got are probable PBR (aka Axxis aka stoptech) Metal Masters. I got them on my 85 Mercedes, and I'll be swapping them out for Axxis Ultimate ceramics soon enough, along with some stoptech rotors.

[DZeckhausen]

Originally Posted by marlinspike

Pagid's are OEM. The ones you got are probable PBR (aka Axxis aka stoptech) Metal Masters. I got them on my 85 Mercedes, and I'll be swapping them out for Axxis Ultimate ceramics soon enough, along with some stoptech rotors.

He probably had the PBR Deluxe, which for the past two years have been the same friction compound as the Axxis Deluxe Plus. Prior to that, the PBR Deluxe was a lower performance pad which I would not want to put on a heavy, powerful car like the 540i. Problem is, they didn't change the box when they changed the compound. So, the only way to know for sure you've got the Deluxe Plus formula is to buy the Axxis labeled box. There are old boxes of PBR pads that have been sitting in warehouses for several years.

If you check out my Axxis pads comparison charts, you'll find the Metal Master, despite being more expensive than the Deluxe Plus, is a worse performer in almost every category. It was a good pad 15 years ago, but newer technology in friction has surpassed it at a lower price point. I think they keep selling it because people know the name and remember to ask for it again. The only problem with my theory is that Axxis just changed the name of the Metal Master to BXG. I have no idea of the logic behind that move!

[DZeckhausen]

Originally Posted by dynodon

I had real good luck with the Akebono ProAct ceramic pads on a 540i 6-speed. They took a really hard 2-day school and several months on the street with little wear, good performance and almost zero dust.

Tire Rack has those pads at a fairly good price. Same as Deluxe Plus in front, about 50% more expensive than Deluxe Plus in back.

If you plan to track the 540i again, you really should swap in a set of Hawk HT10 track pads in front. The difference at the track will be amazing. On a light braking track, you might be able to get by with the ProAct using brake management techniques. But you can really drop those lap times and have total confidence, even at heavy braking tracks where you're reeling the car down from 130+ mph, all day long.

In order to avoid brake judder issues when swapping back and forth between street and track pads, you should follow my instructions here: http://www.zeckhausen.com/avoiding_brake_judder.htm

My 300c, I guess, has ceramic pads similar to these, but I would like a little more bite on the street, and I see that Akebono pads are available for the C, I guess not for the SRT-8. Do you carry these, and if not, what do you recommend for my C for an eventual track day that this car will see, hopefully this year. Do you think the stock pads will take a typical 8-10 lap session or two without danger?

I'm actively looking for track pads for the 300C, so far without any luck. I solved the problem on my wife's car with the 4-wheel StopTech big brake upgrade. Now I can drop virtually any friction compound into the front and rear calipers. The D372 shape is made in almost every friction I can think of. But the 300C factory pads are a new design and it will take a little time before Hawk and others start making race friction for it.

[CMYSRT8]

Originally Posted by Rambit

A while back I posted a question regarding excessive brake dust on the wheels of my SRT8......

Originally Posted by XCITsNU

Well I can speak for the SRT-8 crowd and say that the Brembos on my SRT-8 are creating a lot of black dust. The rims are dirty after a day or two.

Well, I guess when I got the 8, I inherited a fine machine. But as with some inheritences, there may be a little debt to pay....I washed the car thoroughly today, putting on clay bar, then wax....really nice.....but when I came to the wheels, I was shocked!! The dust buildup is incredible!! And this after only 6 days of ownership!!

Awesome car, BTW.....I'm very lucky to have one....I plan to follow the advice of another thread, and put on a wax/dust repel coating of some kind...Canadian Tire carries some kind of rim coating spray...As a temporary solution, hopefully this will help the dust not stick so much...

Besides changing the pads/brakes, as I read in a thread, what do you guys plan to do, wash it out every week? If not, that stuff will build up terrible!!

[Rambit]

Originally Posted by CMYSRT8

I plan to follow the advice of another thread, and put on a wax/dust repel coating of some kind...Canadian Tire carries some kind of rim coating spray...As a temporary solution, hopefully this will help the dust not stick so much...

I've tried waxing the wheels Daryl and it doesen't help at all. I just got into the habit of washing my wheels every time i get back from taking it out. It comes off easily enough if you keep up on it. There was a product that someone linked to the corvette forum, but I can't remember what it was called. We probably can't even get it here in Canada anyway. Too bad, i'd like to try it.

Rambit

[DZeckhausen]

Originally Posted by Rambit

There was a product that someone linked to the corvette forum, but I can't remember what it was called. We probably can't even get it here in Canada anyway. Too bad, i'd like to try it.

That was probably P21S wheel cleaner. I suggest getting their Gel Concentrate, rather than the regular formula, for the SRT8 wheels. It works very well and won't hurt your wheel's finish.

[Rambit]

Thanks Dave

If I can find it here in Canada, I'll give it a try.

Rambit